Marc Kress M.D. & Associates

01/03/2025

We are delighted to share with our patients the addition of Yvonne Ukwu MD to our practice as an official member of our team. We’ve been searching diligently for a great and caring doctor since Dr. Dunn’s departure and we got a wonderful provider in Dr. Ukwu. Some of you have met her as she filled in during the holidays as a temp. We both decided it was a great fit and she signed the contract today. A local, Dr. Ukwu was committed to finding a private old fashioned practice like ours. We wanted someone like her too. Her kindness, intelligence and caring really comes through and we are all so excited and happy. I hope you get to meet her soon. Her official start day is 2/3 and she’ll work Monday through Thursday, including later appointments on Wednesdays.

11/04/2024

Our phone system had an electrical problem and shorted out today. We’re doing our best to repair it as soon as possible. We are here and we are open and our very nice answering service is texting our staff and our doctors with your needs. We’re hoping that our phones will be fixed by tomorrow. Just call our main phone number 215-887-3100 and follow the instructions to speak to the service if you need us. Sorry for any inconvenience.

09/10/2024

I’m posting this as the administrator, not as Dr. Kress. There seem to be some lingering misconceptions about Dr. Kress‘s decision to downsize his workload into the MDVIP (Value in Prevention) model last year. It’s been painful for us to hear some of the bitter comments online from patients equating that decision with greed or elitism. The real reason for that decision was that Dr. Kress needed to downsize his work hours for his health. It’s unsustainable to work 70 hours a week for 40 years. Ironically, Dr. Kress could’ve sold the practice to the hospital (and ruined it) or simply closed our doors, but he didn’t because he wanted the legacy of our rare practice to continue beyond his eventual retirement in a few years. Dr. Kress still owns and manages this privately owned family practice - there are so very few private practices left at all in our area. Most have been gobbled up by the large hospital systems and turned into patient mills rather than patient homes. He’s done all this to continue to give our patients a medical home where they receive excellent care, and our staff a way to continue to put food on their tables. MDVIP does not make Dr. Kress large sums of money. Our mom and pop business continues to make just enough to pay the bills. MDVIP was a vehicle for us to continue to be here for all of our patients, not a way to exclude people from care. The fact that so many people took Dr. Kress’s personal life decision as a sort of abandonment couldn’t be further from the truth. He’s the most caring, loyal and hardworking boss and doctor anyone could hope to have.

09/06/2024

Practice News

Please join us in wishing a farewell to Dr. Dunn as he has chosen to pursue a new career opportunity in rural Pennsylvania. We thank Dr. Dunn for his dedication to excellence in patient care.
Stay tuned for more information!

09/06/2024

We apologize for the inconvenience related to our telephones - Verizon is working on repairing the issue. Still call on 215-887-3100 as that number has been transferred to another line and we are receiving the calls that way. Thank you for your understanding and patience.

08/08/2024

Health Bites

By Dr. Karen Altobelli, CRNP

OBESITY

Obesity is the excess body fat a person has, not necessarily how much someone weighs. For example, take two people, same height, same gender, same weight. One is an athlete, and one is not. Their weights may suggest they are obese given their height / weight ratio, but clearly the athlete has more muscle mass and therefore, not considered medically obese. The CDC estimated that in 2016, obesity affected 93.3 million adults and in 2018 affected 13.7 million children and adolescents in the United States.

Multiple medical and mental health conditions arise from obesity, causing significant health and economic consequences. The big question of What causes obesity? is not easily answered as there are genetic, behavioral, mediations, and environmental factors involved.

There are many treatment modalities to address obesity, ranging from diet and exercise to surgery. Making lifestyle changes is the surest way to keep the weight off. Avoid weight loss scams that promote quick weight loss – this is not a healthy approach.

Consult your health care provider to discuss the best treatment options for you.

Check out the link!

https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/php/data-research/adult-obesity-facts.html #:~:text=At%20a%20glance%201%20Obesity%20is%20a%20serious%2C,%24173%20billion%20in%20medical%20expenditures%20in%202019%20dollars.

Send a message to learn more

03/21/2024

HEALTH BITES
By Dr. Karen Altobelli, CRNP
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY FOODS

Chronic inflammation in the body ultimately harms healthy tissues. Certain foods have the ability to trigger inflammation and make you feel bad. Diets shown to reduce inflammation include the Mediterranean Diet and DASH diets. Choosing to eat foods with anti-inflammatory properties can help improve how you feel and improve your overall health.

Check out the links! Reduce your consumption of processed foods.

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/anti-inflammatory-diet

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/13-anti-inflammatory-foods

https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/want-to-ease-chronic-inflammation

Learn how the choices you make at the grocery store can reduce chronic inflammation and improve your health.

01/25/2024

Health Bites
By Dr. Karen Altobelli, CRNP
The Health Benefits of Music

Singing, dancing and listening to music is good for the brain, your mood, and physical health. Ongoing research shows that weekly singing for those with Parkinson’s disease improved quality of life and speech related outcomes. For those with dementia, music helped reduce agitation. Stroke victims were aided in the recovery of language through music therapy. Dancing to music is exercise, which is good for heart and brain health.

Discuss with your health care provider about how music can help you.
Read more about it!

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/why-is-music-good-for-the-brain-2020100721062
https://www.todaysgeriatricmedicine.com/archive/JF23p10.shtml

Today's Geriatric Medicine - News & Insight for Professionals in Elder Care

01/04/2024

Are you up to date on your COVID shots?

Read the 12-22-2023 update on JN.1 being tracked by CDC.

12/14/2023

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/respiratory-syncytial-virus/symptoms-causes/syc-20353098

Talk to your health care provider to see if the vaccine is right for you.

This common illness affects the lungs. It can seem like a cold, but may be severe, especially in children. Know the symptoms and treatment.

11/02/2023

11/02/2023

Health Bites
By Dr. Karen Altobelli, CRNP
Cannabis Interactions with Anticoagulants
The legalization of ma*****na in some states for recreational use and medicinal use can lead to possible drug interactions with anticoagulants, such as Jantoven ([formerly Coumadin], warfarin), Eliquis (apixaban), Xarelto (rivaroxaban) and others that are processed through the same liver pathway. The liver processes, or metabolizes various drugs via many pathways, and when two or more drugs utilize the same pathway, interactions can occur causing a much higher blood level or much lower blood level of those drugs. If you’re taking an anticoagulant this can have serious consequences, such as increased risk for blood clots if the anticoagulant blood level is too low, or excessive bleeding if the blood level is too high. Cannabis can cause the anticoagulant blood level to go up resulting in possible bleeding issues.
Be sure to discuss Cannabis use with your health care provider since THC and CBD can affect the INR test result.
To read about this check out:

Today's Geriatric Medicine - News & Insight for Professionals in Elder Care